Long shots

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kaver22

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I posted this questions originally under a different forum and was told I should re-post it here.

I've been playing for a few years and have just recently made some improvements -- making sure my elbow is near 90 degrees, keeping my back hand wrist straight (i had a tendency to bend it). It took a few days of feeling very awkward but once I got used to the new positioning I've seen an incredible improvement.

One thing that I haven't been able to correct yet is that on long shots I tend to shoot the object ball too far to the right -- even when I feel like I'm correcting for it. I don't know if it's a eye problem or a small wobble in my stroke that becomes more apparent in longer shots, or if i just psych myself out because I've always had more trouble with these shots than other, even more difficult, shots. :confused:

Any advice? Practice tips?

Thanks!
 
kaver22 said:
I posted this questions originally under a different forum and was told I should re-post it here.

I've been playing for a few years and have just recently made some improvements -- making sure my elbow is near 90 degrees, keeping my back hand wrist straight (i had a tendency to bend it). It took a few days of feeling very awkward but once I got used to the new positioning I've seen an incredible improvement.

One thing that I haven't been able to correct yet is that on long shots I tend to shoot the object ball too far to the right -- even when I feel like I'm correcting for it. I don't know if it's a eye problem or a small wobble in my stroke that becomes more apparent in longer shots, or if i just psych myself out because I've always had more trouble with these shots than other, even more difficult, shots. :confused:

Any advice? Practice tips?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Start with much shorter shots, like the cue ball four diamond from the pocket or even two. Shoot a shot until you make 10 in a row and then move the cue ball six inches farther back. Even on the short shots, concentrate on putting the object ball in the center of the pocket. Do not be satisfied with letting the ball rattle in.

Good luck.
 
kaver22 said:
I posted this questions originally under a different forum and was told I should re-post it here.

I've been playing for a few years and have just recently made some improvements -- making sure my elbow is near 90 degrees, keeping my back hand wrist straight (i had a tendency to bend it). It took a few days of feeling very awkward but once I got used to the new positioning I've seen an incredible improvement.

One thing that I haven't been able to correct yet is that on long shots I tend to shoot the object ball too far to the right -- even when I feel like I'm correcting for it. I don't know if it's a eye problem or a small wobble in my stroke that becomes more apparent in longer shots, or if i just psych myself out because I've always had more trouble with these shots than other, even more difficult, shots. :confused:

Any advice? Practice tips?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Get into your stance, get ready to shoot and then close your eyes and shoot. See what happens. Do it a few times and have someone watch the result, or better still, take some video. It may not give you the exact answer you need but it could help you rule out whether or not you are psyching yourself out and manipulating your stroke.

Speaking of video, have someone shoot some video of you shooting long shots from the side, rear and front. You may pick up on something.
 
kaver22 said:
I posted this questions originally under a different forum and was told I should re-post it here.

I've been playing for a few years and have just recently made some improvements -- making sure my elbow is near 90 degrees, keeping my back hand wrist straight (i had a tendency to bend it). It took a few days of feeling very awkward but once I got used to the new positioning I've seen an incredible improvement.

One thing that I haven't been able to correct yet is that on long shots I tend to shoot the object ball too far to the right -- even when I feel like I'm correcting for it. I don't know if it's a eye problem or a small wobble in my stroke that becomes more apparent in longer shots, or if i just psych myself out because I've always had more trouble with these shots than other, even more difficult, shots. :confused:

Any advice? Practice tips?

Thanks!
Click to expand...



Maybe this will help.
Your elbow never has to be a 90 degrees. The 90 degrees is between your cue stick and lower arm. Good way to see it is: your hand should fall right below your elbow at contact.
randyg
 
I'm always surprised at how quickly people reply to posts here. Thanks for all the advice. I'll try it out later this week and let you know if I figure out what it is.
 
Really try and concentrate on staying down on the shot.... check your final "finish" and see what is going on? Is the tip down, is it pointing straight, is your wrist straight, did you really hit your finish, did you drop your elbow? Did you tighten your gip up at the last second. Lot of folks see long shots and thus their mind wants to use more power and/or force. Shoot some of the shots very soft and very hard and see which way you are missing, and if your "mechanics" are falling apart on the "harder" shots. There are a lot of things involved.

Also, use a stripe ball and chalk up pretty heavy and turn the stipe so it is horizontal, and you are hitting the number dead center. See how the tips hits the ball, did you hit it where you thought you were hitting it? or are you pushing it to the left or right, and thus putting some spin on the ball that you really don't want...... that plays havoc on the long straight in shots.

Fran's suggestion for the video will give you a lot of the info.... you really don't know what you are doing wrong until you see it sometimes (or someone else does)

If you don't have video, then shoot the short straight in shots and take a mental note of your wrist, elbow, tip position, grip pressure.... and then staring moving back from there and try to see what has changed.......

I just did lesson for a guy who just could NOT make a straight in shot. Heck, he could NOT make a cut shot either.... and there is the problem.

Folks just assume straight in shots are no brainers, but when folks miss cut shots it is not "embarassing" or something that is out of the norm, because it "looks" more difficult....and thus it is just a miss to them and not something they did "wrong" mechanically, and most folks just think they must have aimed too thick or too thin when in fact many times it was NOT the aim, but the stroke.......

Good Luck


RJ

ACS - Level 3 Instructor
House Pro - Rack'em Up Chicago
 
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trouble with long shots

kaver22 said:
I posted this questions originally under a different forum and was told I should re-post it here.

I've been playing for a few years and have just recently made some improvements -- making sure my elbow is near 90 degrees, keeping my back hand wrist straight (i had a tendency to bend it). It took a few days of feeling very awkward but once I got used to the new positioning I've seen an incredible improvement.

One thing that I haven't been able to correct yet is that on long shots I tend to shoot the object ball too far to the right -- even when I feel like I'm correcting for it. I don't know if it's a eye problem or a small wobble in my stroke that becomes more apparent in longer shots, or if i just psych myself out because I've always had more trouble with these shots than other, even more difficult, shots. :confused:

Any advice? Practice tips?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm not an 'instuctor' but I do have 45 years of experience. Distance is obviously harder. It requires more precision. I good drill / test that I have seen is to freeze a ball on the rail in the middle of the table & then go to the other end to shoot from the middle of the table. The objective is to hit the ball exactly in the middle so it double hits the cue ball & the cue ball rolls straight back at you. It is difficut to do but it might indicate what may be wrong. Hit it softly & slowly so you might be able to see something or notice something. When I have to shoot certain long straight in shots, I have to make sure that I do not put any unwanted side spin on the ball. Side spin will cause the cue ball to swirve off line & could cause a host of things to happen that could cause a miss. You may be doing that, putting unwanted side spin on the ball. Also when shooting long shots some people think that they have to shoot fast & hard. If you are doing that, shooting fast & hard , that could be throwing your stroke off. Only shoot as fast & hard as is needed. Fast & hard is not needed very often but sometimes it is. Also if you have a downward stroke you could be bouncing the cue ball. If the cue ball bounces with even a little side spin it will vier off of your intend line. Listen when you hit & see if you hear it bounce. Just a few ideas. Good luck with it. If you have any questions you can private message me with them & I'll do my best to help if I can.
 
Strongly second the advice on using a stripe as the cue ball (or a training ball designed for this purpose - there are several to choose from), setting it up so it slides or rolls down the table "like a wheel" (= just the phrase I use when I teach this). Experience tells me that when people miss consistently on one side, it's most often because they fail to hit the cue ball dead center (or rather, on a vertical axis without side spin). Exceptions apply, as always, but it's the first aspect to check and make sure of. It usually turns out to be a relatively minor amount of side spin and thus throw/deflection, but enough to miss long shots.

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
I like Bob's suggestion. Progressive drills are frequently the best option. Master the simple, and then gradually work toward the more difficult.

Steve
 
Get Bert Kinister's tapes #55 and 56
It helped my long ball pocketing with a small angle more than 100% in just a day of practice. And there is a lesson there on making cut shots that people tend to under cut. With how you describe your missing, this is exactly the info you want.

If you have issues with straight in shots it's another thing, but those tapes should help you a ton with small angle shots.

I think you can get a monthly sub to his site for $30 or something, and you can watch any video he has for the time.

Not an instructor, but I have shown this method Kinister explained to several people, including my 12 yr old son, and it was a huge improvement in every single case.
My 12 yr old son fired in 4-5 6 ft long shots in a row right after I showed him the tapes. And I mean "fired" them in, dead center of the pocket at speed.
 
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Try this... get yourself a video camera & the Stroke Analyzer software. This will answer lots of questions that you may have about your stroke,

You can always work with coach by sending your video tapes to be analyzed.

Bert Kinnister's Mighty X is great for straight in shots...
 
When you get advice from people like Randyg, Bob Jewett, and Fran Crimi you are getting some great help. Listen to these people. They know what they are talking about.
 
kaznj said:
When you get advice from people like Randyg, Bob Jewett, and Fran Crimi you are getting some great help. Listen to these people. They know what they are talking about.
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hey what about me,,,,:eek:
just kidding :)
im not an instructor and the people you mentioned know a ZILLION more than i do
 
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